OUR VIEW: Back away from table, cut stroke risk

Published: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 7:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 7:48 p.m.

It’s not exactly news that fried foods and sweet drinks are bad for you, but a University of Alabama at Birmingham study ties those items and others traditionally found on Southern dinner tables to the risk of stroke.

The UAB study, conducted over a six-year period, found people who frequently ate Southern foods — described as “fried foods, organ meats and sweetened beverages” — were 41 percent more likely to have strokes than people who only ate those foods once a month. African-Americans have a 63 percent higher risk of stroke.

Researcher Suzanne Judd said the study, while not exactly delivering earth-shattering news, is important from a scientific standpoint and may help prevent strokes.

Prevention starts, in large part, with individual choices. The study found that diets which rely more on vegetables, fruits and beans helped reduce the risk of stroke by 29 percent, if consumed three times a week.

Judd knows that Southerners are unlikely to give up their bacon, ham or biscuits and gravy, but she does urge moderation. As Alabama residents are, on average, among the fattest in the nation (fourth in 2012), that sounds like a good idea. Obesity is a factor in calculating stroke risk, so stepping back from the table a bit would be a wise move on several counts.

Scottsboro Boys

One of the many bills that Alabama lawmakers will consider during this session would allow the state parole board to grant posthumous pardons to the Scottsboro Boys. It’s a move that’s long overdue.

In 1931, nine young black men, who soon became known as the Scottsboro Boys, were accused and convicted of raping two white women. Eight of the nine accused received the death penalty with only the youngest, a 12-year-old, given a lesser sentence. One of the two women recanted her story of being raped and the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the verdicts, but retrials were ordered in Alabama. Eventually charges were dropped against five of the defendants, but the others were convicted. While none were executed, they spent years in prison. Sponsors of the legislation say they were “victims of a series of gross injustice.”

The blight the case put on Alabama’s reputation never will be fully erased, but this legislation would help a little. We hope lawmakers act swiftly to approve it.

<p>It's not exactly news that fried foods and sweet drinks are bad for you, but a University of Alabama at Birmingham study ties those items and others traditionally found on Southern dinner tables to the risk of stroke.</p><p>The UAB study, conducted over a six-year period, found people who frequently ate Southern foods — described as “fried foods, organ meats and sweetened beverages” — were 41 percent more likely to have strokes than people who only ate those foods once a month. African-Americans have a 63 percent higher risk of stroke.</p><p>Researcher Suzanne Judd said the study, while not exactly delivering earth-shattering news, is important from a scientific standpoint and may help prevent strokes.</p><p>Prevention starts, in large part, with individual choices. The study found that diets which rely more on vegetables, fruits and beans helped reduce the risk of stroke by 29 percent, if consumed three times a week.</p><p>Judd knows that Southerners are unlikely to give up their bacon, ham or biscuits and gravy, but she does urge moderation. As Alabama residents are, on average, among the fattest in the nation (fourth in 2012), that sounds like a good idea. Obesity is a factor in calculating stroke risk, so stepping back from the table a bit would be a wise move on several counts.</p><h3>Scottsboro Boys</h3>
<p>One of the many bills that Alabama lawmakers will consider during this session would allow the state parole board to grant posthumous pardons to the Scottsboro Boys. It's a move that's long overdue.</p><p>In 1931, nine young black men, who soon became known as the Scottsboro Boys, were accused and convicted of raping two white women. Eight of the nine accused received the death penalty with only the youngest, a 12-year-old, given a lesser sentence. One of the two women recanted her story of being raped and the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the verdicts, but retrials were ordered in Alabama. Eventually charges were dropped against five of the defendants, but the others were convicted. While none were executed, they spent years in prison. Sponsors of the legislation say they were “victims of a series of gross injustice.” </p><p>The blight the case put on Alabama's reputation never will be fully erased, but this legislation would help a little. We hope lawmakers act swiftly to approve it.</p>